…attributes achievements to Gov. Mbah’s leadership
Engr. Pastor Beloved-Dan Obi Anike, Executive Chairman of Enugu East Local Government Area, has been named Best Local Government Chairman of the Year 2025 in Enugu State by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
The Union said the award recognises his “inclusive, innovative and transformational governance model,” which has positioned Enugu East as one of the state’s most progressive councils.
Speaking after receiving the honour, Anike dedicated the recognition to Governor Peter Mbah, saying the council’s achievements were made possible by the governor’s clear policy direction. “Our achievements are a reflection of the governor’s exceptional leadership. His disruptive innovation agenda provided the framework that made all these reforms possible,” he said.
In the last one year, Enugu East LGA has undergone major administrative and developmental reforms that have created a more responsive, data-driven and community-focused governance system.
Anike’s administration is guided by a framework that combines inclusion, innovation, institutional strengthening and transformation, all aligned with Governor Mbah’s vision of a more livable and economically vibrant state.
At the centre of the council’s development approach is the Family Economic and Empowerment Programme (FEEP), which integrates governance inclusion, community empowerment, human capital development, social protection and public health improvement.
The chairman explained that FEEP has helped the LGA organise development “not as isolated activities but as a coordinated system with measurable outcomes.”
These efforts have attracted national and international recognition. Enugu East placed second in Nigeria in the Bloomberg Philanthropies Global Mayors Challenge, placing the council on the global innovation map.
The World Health Organization also honoured the LGA in May 2025 as the Best Performing LGA in Primary Healthcare in the South-East. In addition, the council pioneered Nigeria’s first Inclusive Governance Charter, which has strengthened transparency, accountability and equity and is now referenced as a national model.
Under Anike’s leadership, community inclusion has expanded significantly. The LGA institutionalised participation through engagements with communities, youth groups, women, traditional institutions, faith leaders and development practitioners.
This process later led to the establishment of the Human Capital Development Trust Fund. The council sponsored WAEC fees for 1,700 students for the 2024/2025 session and has already begun registration for the next academic year. It also registered and trained over 200 women’s cooperatives for a revolving loan scheme aimed at strengthening family economies.
The LGA’s scholarship and bursary schemes have supported thousands of young people. The Greater Tomorrow Scholarship granted full awards to 150 students in both junior and senior secondary school categories, selected through competitive examinations.
Another 1,000 undergraduates benefited from the bursary programme, while 15 medical and technology students received sponsorship at Maduka Onyishi University. Seven law students also received support in 2025, alongside five students supported for international studies. In youth skills development, more than 400 young people have completed training in ICT, welding, upholstery and heavy-duty operations, while 100 others graduated from aviation-related training at the Universal School of Aviation in Lagos.
Health protection has also expanded, with 5,000 people, especially women of childbearing age, the elderly and the urban poor, enrolled into the health insurance scheme. In land governance, the administration established the Land Mediation and Verification Centre, which now handles land rights protection, conflict resolution and fraud prevention across communities.
The council has also recorded significant progress in infrastructure delivery. Fifteen transformers have been installed and energised, while 60 kilometres of community access roads have been graded.
In addition, the LGA delivered 12.4 kilometres of inter-community roads with drainage channels, including a mini bridge linking parts of Ugwuomu, Emene, Ibagwa, Eziama and Umuchigbo. Three new Type-1 Primary Health Centres were constructed in Neke Uno, Nkpologwu and Obinagu.
The Ugwogo–Amankpaka Ultra-Modern Market has been completed, while several neighbourhood markets are progressing through public–private partnerships.
Anike’s administration has also strengthened peacebuilding and institutional stability. The Land Mediation and Verification Centre continues to resolve disputes quickly, offering communities a reliable avenue for justice and minimising tensions in areas previously prone to conflict.
On social welfare, the LGA has rolled out programmes that support vulnerable households. Ten thousand women benefitted from the One Woman, One Wrapper initiative, while a festive distribution of 10,000 bags of rice to households is being planned. The council has also introduced an Elders Welfare Package and institutionalised an Advisory Council to support development decisions.
Reflecting on the progress so far, Anike maintained that the achievements recorded in Enugu East are a direct outcome of Governor Mbah’s leadership philosophy. “Governor Mbah gave us the clarity, the confidence and the policy direction to be bold and innovative. Enugu East simply followed his footsteps to deliver results,” he said.
With these reforms, Enugu East LGA has become a leading example of inclusive and innovation-driven local governance in Nigeria.
